Page 28 of The Professor
He doesn’t say anything and I think he may have hung up, until I hear him clear his throat.
“Yes,” he whispers.
I smile and say, “All you need to do is ask. You don’t always have to dismiss me.”
“Emma, it’s becoming impossible to dismiss you.”
Before I can say anything he hangs up. Doesn’t matter though, because he just told me what I needed to hear. He didn’t say it, but he doesn’t need to. This dangerous game we’ve been playing, it’s about to get a lot more intense.
Chapter 14
Drake
Hangingup the phone with Emma, I pace my bedroom. I feel like a fucking caged rat since this is the only room not under construction. Not only that, but everything that happened last night with Emma is all I can think about.
As worried as I was for her, the anger I felt was equal, if not more. Bryson better hope he never sees me again, because the beating he took last night will be nothing compared to what I’ll do. And I’ll do it with a fucking smile.
It was dreadful seeing Emma like that. I did the only thing I knew how, I took over. Once I got her stomach empty, I carried her to her dorm. Having her small body in my arms did something to me. It brought out a protective side I haven’t felt in a long time. Staying until I felt she was going to be alright wasn’t even an option. Not even when her roommates came home and saw me pacing the floor. Not even when they watched me continuously go in and out of her bedroom, checking on her. I didn’t give a fuck what anyone in the moment thought. The only thing I cared about was Emma.
“Drake,” Liam yells, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Escaping my cage, I carefully make my way downstairs. It looks like a damn construction zone, not a place where someone lives. I don’t know how much longer I can take this.
“Liam,” I shout.
“He’s out back,” one of the guys tells me.
Once out there, I look around and finally find myself smiling. It’s really starting to look like the ranch I once knew. The barn is being rebuilt and the landscapers are bringing life back to it. This part of the ranch I’m beginning to be proud of.
“There you are,” Liam says, walking toward me. “I never asked, but are you going to actually keep animals here?”
“Are you kidding me? Unless I have someone taking care of them, I doubt I will,” I say, looking at him like he’s crazy.
“Really? Damn, I was hoping for some horses,” he says, looking toward the barn.
“This is what you called me out here for? Seriously?”
Sometimes I wonder how the fuck he’s gotten this far in life. He goes from successful contractor to a ten year old kid within minutes.
Laughing, he pulls a chair out to sit down. “No, I’m fucking with you. I wanted to talk about refinishing the floors.”
“Does that need to be done right now?” I ask, staring out at the woods line.
“Why, you have something else more important to do?”
“Let me ask you something,” I say, ignoring his question.
“Umm okay, what?”
Crossing my arms, I take a second to figure out how to put it. Glancing over at him, I just go for it.
“Have you ever wanted something even though you knew it was wrong?” I ask, dipping my brow.
He takes off his hat and scratches his head before putting it back on. “I don’t think there’s anyone who hasn’t.”
“Yeah alright, but did you do it?”
“Why don’t you just stop beating around the bush and tell me what the hell is going on.”
